YEREVAN, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN - ARMENIANS TODAY. Early April 13 distinguished Armenian script writer, film director, writer Ara Vahuni, 68 passed away of an incurable disease. Ara Vahuni was born on February 24, 1938 to the family of famous poet, translator and satirist Suren Vahuni. After graduating from the directors department of the All-Union State Institute of Cinematography in Moscow in 1968, he worked at Hayfilm and Hayk film studios, also in the RA Defence Minsitry . Ara Vahuni is the author of more than 40 documentary and feature films, and Honored Art Worker of Armenia. He was awarded a State Prize of Armenia for the documentary films "The Curtain Does Not Go Down" (1973), "Family Tree" (1975), "Elegy" (1978) and "The Echo of Distant Whistles". The works of Ara Vahuni won awards at a number of film festivals. Besides the above mentioned films, it is also worth noting the film "Musa Ler-88, or Year of Dragon"- about the devastating earthquake and the Karabakh movement, as well as one of the last considerable works of the famous film maker - "Round Dance"(2005) According to film director Ruben Gevorgiants,the Chairman of the Union of Cinematographers of Armenia, a decision has already been made to name Grand Prix of the "It's Me" annual festival of young documentary film makers "Ara Vahuni Award".

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